Menu

The BCSFA makes communication with the media a key priority and welcome your calls. We know journalists are often working with limited time and with certain requirements to complete a story. The basic information is all here at your fingertips, but if you have any further questions, contact us directly.

NEW RECORD VALUE FOR B.C. FARM RAISED SALMON EXPORTS: OVER $540-MILLION IN 2016

Global sales of fresh B.C farm-raised salmon reached a record $745-million CAD in 2016 with exports to 12-markets valued over $544-million. Domestic demand for salmon raised in B.C. continues to be strong amidst record high global salmon prices, while the United States remains the primary destination for exports. Markets in Asia are showing huge potential with year-over-year growth more than doubling in many markets.

B.C. SALMON FARMERS ANNOUNCE 2017 CALL FOR RESEARCH PROPOSALS

The BC Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) Marine Environmental Research Program (MERP) is now accepting proposals for 2017 for projects that will provide a better understanding of the marine environment and B.C.’s wild marine species, particularly wild salmon stocks.

STATEMENT RE: BILL C-228 – OCEAN SALMON FARMING IS GOOD FOR BC

“The World Wildlife Fund has set a new global standard for environmentally sustainable salmon farming and B.C. salmon farmers are accelerating towards meeting that standard faster than any region in the world. The BCSFA does not support Bill C-228 and believes B.C’s competitive advantage is our vast ocean resource, and that responsible stewardship of that resource will provide economic advancement for coastal communities, First Nations, and protect wild salmon for generations to come. Globally, salmon farmers have come a long way from the either-or dialogue of land-based or marine-based farming and have adopted practices that utilize both to their maximum advantage to develop the industry in a responsible way. Salmon farmers in B.C. alone have invested over $50-million in environmentally advanced modern farming infrastructure over the past two years alone in both land and marine based farming technology.”

B.C. SALMON FARMERS PUBLISH 2016 SUSTAINABILITY PROGRESS REPORT

Salmon farmers in British Columbia are achieving third-party certifications as fast, or faster than any region in the world with farmers raising Atlantic Salmon – representing about 95% of the average annual harvest, hitting key milestones on their way to fulfilling their commitment of being 100% certified to Aquaculture Stewardship salmon standard by 2020. This is detailed in the 2016 BCSFA Sustainability Progress Report released today at the 2016 BCSFA Business Summit in Campbell River, B.C.

A detailed assessment of consumers’ most common protein choices shows salmon raised in the ocean have the lowest overall cost to the environment. A new study prepared for the BCSFA by Ottawa based RIAS Inc. examines the evidence from life-cycle analyses in the literature on the environmental footprint of B.C. farm-raised salmon compared to production of other food proteins.

ANOTHER MILESTONE ACHIEVED IN DRIVE FOR HIGHEST 3RD PARTY ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

Salmon farming companies in British Columbia continue to put investment in world leading farming practices into action with two more farms achieving the ASC salmon standard. Cermaq Canada has 20% of its farms ASC certified – announcing that its Brent Island and Venture Point farms, located in the Okisollo Channel near Quadra Island, have now met the standard.

STATEMENT RE: FEDERAL RESPONSE TO COHEN RECOMMENDATIONS

In an update provided today at the DFO West Vancouver Laboratory Centre for Aquarium and Environmental Research, Minister Dominic LeBlanc shared the progress Fisheries and Oceans Canada has made on the Cohen recommendations since they were released in October 2012, and provided a pathway for their future science-based approach to protecting wild pacific salmon.

B.C. DAY SUCCESS STORY: HOMEGROWN INDUSTRY ON PACE TO SHATTER EXPORT RECORDS, CREATING JOBS IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND OPPORTUNITY FOR FIRST NATIONS

As residents throughout the province celebrate the B.C. Day long weekend, a homegrown industry is boosting B.C.’s exports by putting fish on dinner plates at a record-setting pace. Recently released data from Stats Canada (January to May 2016) shows exports of farm-raised salmon to key Asian markets is on a record setting pace in 2016, with many markets already eclipsing previous annual volumes.

BCSFA STATEMENT RE: SEA SHEPHERD SOCIETY CELEBRITY CAMPAIGN

The BC Salmon Farmers Association is responding to today’s activist campaign launch, this time featuring Pamela Anderson and the Sea Shepherd Society. The Sea Shepard Society says they are going to travel up the BC coast over the course of several weeks, stopping at various salmon farms to “conduct audits”, which will be done in a “non-aggressive and non-harassing manner”. B.C. Salmon Farmers are concerned about the aims of this voyage and campaign. Although they have reinforced that they will be “non-aggressive and non-harassing” when approaching farms, the Sea Shepherd society has a long history of doing the opposite. Farming companies place great emphasis on the health and safety of employees, and the health and wellbeing of their animals.